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Polk Audio Nue Voe In-Ear Headphones (Earbuds) Review
The Nue Voe in-ear headphones (earbuds) are long-time speaker manufacturer Polk Audio's new entry into the hot headphone market and represent the top model of the Heritage series of in-ear headphones (earbuds).
GoldenEar SuperCenter XL Center Channel Speaker Review
Schiit Asgard 2 Headphone Amplifier and Bifrost Uber DAC Review
Schiit Audio is an irreverent company that builds high quality electronics for headphone listeners entirely made in the USA. The Asgard 2 and Bifrost are Schiit's most popular headphone amp and DAC, and they sound and look far more expensive than they are.
Wireworld Platinum Eclipse 7 XLR Balanced Interconnects Review
JL Audio E-Sub E112 Powered Subwoofer Review
JL Audio is best known for their no-compromise mobile audio speakers and amplifiers. That's where it all started for them. But they also made a name for themselves with a line of extreme powered subwoofers for the home market, the Gotham and Fathom. These first JL Audio home subwoofers were big and bold. Now JL Audio has released the E-Subs, which are scaled down subwoofers at more accessible price points…Read More.
OPPO HA-1 Headphone Amplifier Review
Since headphones have become so popular, it seems only natural that dedicated headphone amplifiers would follow. Many have come to market, and the OPPO HA-1 headphone amplifier has just been introduced. It has numerous digital and analog inputs, and the output stage operates in Pure Class A. It also can handle digital audio in the new ultra-high resolution formats, e.g., 24/352.8 PCM and DSD128. A dynamite product from a dynamite company, the HA-1 is a champion in the ring!
BenQ GP20 Ultra-Lite LED-lit-DLP Projector Review
The BenQ GP20 LED projector houses a single DLP chip in a small lightweight chassis barely larger than a hardcover book. Its light engine is rated for 20,000 hours and will never change in brightness or color. It comes with a WiFi dongle to stream content wirelessly and a convenient carry bag so you can quickly set it up for an impromptu movie night. A complete set of inputs are provided including HDMI with MHL for easy connection to smart phones or tablets. It's compatible with a wide variety of still image and video formats so content can come from a laptop as easily as it does from a Blu-ray player. Today I installed it in my reference theater and put it through my benchmark suite as I have done for our prior BenQ projector reviews.
Epson Home Cinema 2030 LCD 3D Projector Review
Here's what you get with the Cinema 2030: 2,000 lumens of brightness, 3D, HDMI with MHL, USB with networking capability, and a built-in speaker. Here's what you'll have to move up in price for: lens shift, higher quality optics, lower black levels, THX certification, and wireless HDMI. If you're looking for a portable projector that works in a variety of environments, and can connect to any conceivable video source, I don't believe you'll have to look any further! Let's check it out.
OPPO PM-1 Planar Magnetic Over-the-Ear Headphones Review
OPPO, known for their very high quality universal players, including the latest OPPO BDP 105 Blu-ray player, has now ventured into another arena: headphones. Their first model, just released, is the OPPO PM-1, which is an over-the-ear design, using planar magnetic drivers. At a time when everyone seems to be offering headphones and/or earbuds as part of their product portfolio, only a handful really stand out as top notch performers. The PM-1 is destined to join that group. NOTE: INFO ON THE NEW OPPO PM-2 HEADPHONES IS POSTED AT THE END OF THIS REVIEW - APRIL 29, 2014.
JVC DLA-X700R Three-Chip D-ILA Projector Review
For years JVC has produced the best contrast ratios of any home projector thanks to their D-ILA technology. They have been able to manage these stellar black levels despite being the only major company to not utilize any sort of dynamic iris system in their projectors. This year they have added a dynamic iris system to their projectors that promises to provide even deeper blacks than ever before. The JVC X700 also features their updated e-Shift3 that now accepts a 4K signal and offers more control than before. As everyone seems to be clamoring for UltraHD, can the JVC X700 deliver the goods while still using a regular 1080p panel?
Seymour Screen Excellence Enlightor 4K Acoustically Transparent Projection Screen
At home, acoustically transparent projection screens have been around for years, but have always had flaws. The size of the holes required for allowing sound to pass through are often visible from normal seating distances in the home. Also, much of the light passes through the screen, and this reduces the brightness of the image you will see. A projector you can buy for $3,000 now has more than enough brightness to allow some loss through the perforations. We have also seen the introduction of woven screens that allow sound to pass through, but also have a fine texture that is invisible from a normal distance. One such screen material is the Enlightor 4K from Seymour Screen Excellence. Boasting ISF certification for image quality and said to be acoustically transparent from 100 Hz to 20 kHz, it looks to be a screen material that can give you that movie theater immersion at home.
BenQ W7500 Single-Chip DLP Projector
Looking over Secrets' last few years of projector reviews, it quickly becomes evident that the pricing sweet spot has settled around the $3000 mark. This makes sense since it's only a little more or less than you'd pay for a top-quality 65-inch flat panel. A few years ago, any TV over 50 inches carried a big price premium. When I bought my Pioneer Kuro in 2009 for example, I paid $2,900 for a 50-inch screen. I really wanted the 60-inch model but it was almost double the price at $5,600!
The REALLY BIG screen experience is still only available from front projection. Last year, I got to check out Mitsubishi's DLP, the HC8000D. This time, BenQ sent me their new W7500. For $2,799, it offers some great features and very high performance coupled with tremendous light output. Let's take a look.
B&W 805 Diamond Bookshelf and HTM4 Center Channel Speakers
Bowers and Wilkin's (B&W) is a name that anyone even casually interested in audio and speaker manufacturers will undoubtedly know. With their distinctive look and stellar reputation, B&W speakers have found their way not just into many home audio set-ups, but also of the world's most iconic professional recording studios (raise your hand if you've seen the picture of an array of B&W speakers and Classé electronics at Abbey Road studios). Despite having known of B&W for as long as I've been involved in this field, I have personally had little experience with the speakers directly. I was therefore excited to have the opportunity to evaluate the B&W's 805 Diamond bookshelf and HTM4 center channel speaker and I am eager to pass along my thoughts.
Arcam AVR750 7.1 A/V Receiver
Receivers are hard to review. It's almost impossible to directly compare them to another model as there is so much wiring involved. Attempting to rely on memory has its own challenges, as it can be unreliable when it comes to audio. With all the difference sections of a receiver, from audio and video handling, to room correction and amplifiers, it is difficult to determine what is performing right and what is wrong. It was with great anticipation I delved into the new Arcam AVR750 receiver, the flagship model from the well-regarded UK company.